Afrotherian conservation : newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group

2017·4 MB·English

by  IUCN/SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group

AFROTHERIAN CONSERVATION
Newsletter of the lUCN/SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group
From the editors:
It seems our appeal for more input for this issue from members and interested parties has
borne fruit, with a bumper issue. We thank all contributors, especially the 'golden molers' who
from nothing in issue number 12 have contributed greatly to issue number 13. Thank you one
and all!
One of the most important issues pointed out in several of the articles here, is how many
'new' species and subspecies are hiding in plain sight. This has very important implications for
the successful conservation of many species, in particular the poorly known golden moles, many
tenrecs and even the hyraxes.
We would like to have some feedback from you, the reader, as to whether you think the
newsletter still has a place, or do you think articles, notes, new literature should just be placed
on the Afrotheria webpage as they become available?
For issue number 14 we would greatly appreciate receiving material for publication well
before the 2018 July deadline, as we will be spending lengthy periods in the field. So to another
good afrotherian year ahead!
C. & M. Stuart, Loxton, South Africa
August 2017 (www.stuartonnature.com)
Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec Echinops telfairi (© C.& M. Stuart)
In This Issue - Number 13 - September 2017
Editorial 1
Features
Presence of Chequered Giant Sengi {Rhynchocyon cirnei) at Shiwa N'gandu 3
in northern Zambia
Identifying the different forms of giant sengi (Rhynchocyon) based on 7
external colour pattern
Sengi Taxonomy - a. 2011 update 10
Cape Rock Hyrax research update: Cryptic diversity in the rock hyrax from 12
southern Africa
Genes reveal new golden mole cryptic lineages in the Greater-Maputaland- 15
Pondoland-Albany region of southern Africa
Species distribution modelling forecasts the possible ranges and 19
conservation status of four grassland golden mole taxa (Amblysomus) in
South Africa
Planning for persistence of a Juliana's Golden Mole (Neamblysomus 24
julianae) subpopulation threatened by urban development on Bronberg
Ridge of Pretoria (Tshwane), South Africa
Small mammal monitoring: why we need more data on the Afrotheria 34
Notes from the Field
Filling a gap in the distribution of Sengis in Ethiopia 43
Some thoughts on the distribution of Tree Hyraxes (Genus Dendrohyrax) in 47
northern Tanzania
New bamboo named after a tenrec 50
Afrotheria News
Message from the Chairs 51
African national park taken off World Heritage 'danger list' 51
The Tweeting Tenrec 52
Update to Sengi website 52
New Golden-rumped Sengi literature 53
Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke and other links 53
Provisional AZE Status for Arabuko-Sokoke Forest 53
2016 Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho 54
Notice Board - Smith Fellowship Program 55
Recent Literature 56
Guidelines for Authors / Subscription information 60
Afrotherian Conservation is published annually by the lUCN Species Survival Commission
Afrotheria Specialist Group to promote the exchange of news and information on the
conservation of, and applied research into, golden moles, sengis, hyraxes, tenrecs and the
aardvark.
Published by lUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
©2017 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
ISSN: 1664-6754
Find out more about the Group on our website at http://afrotheria.net/ASG.html and follow
us on Twitter @Tweeting_Tenrec
Afrotherian Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 2
Features
Presence of Chequered Giant Sengi {Rhynchocyon cirnei)
at Shiwa N’gandu in northern Zambia
Frank Willems
Mutinondo Wilderness Ltd, PO Box 450126 Mpika, Zambia, email: [email protected]
Introduction
The Chequered Giant Sengi (Rhynchocyon cirnei) has long been known from the extreme
northern and eastern parts of Zambia, north of a line from S9.00°E28.00° in the west to
SI 1.00°E33.00° in the east (Ansell 1978). The presence of the species as far south as S 12.45° in
the Muchinga Plateau was only published recently (Willems 2016). Firm confirmation could
only be presented for Mutinondo Wilderness, while oral reports suggest a more widespread
distribution in the area. One of the unconfirmed localities presented in Willems (2016) was
Shiwa N’gandu Estate (Fig. 1). Here I confirm this locality and include some notes on the
occurrence there.
Site description
Shiwa N’gandu Estate is a 9,000 hectares private estate in Muchinga Province in northern
Zambia (Fig. 1). The estate is named after its dominant feature, the 1,000 ha Lake Shiwa
N’gandu, which translates into “Home of the Royal Crocodile”. The Estate is best known for the
old colonial manor house. Parts of the estate have been transformed into exotic tree plantations
and arable land, though much of the area has retained its natural vegetation. Other dominant
human activities are game farming, livestock ranching and subsistence fishing on the lake.
Elevation ranges from 1,460 m asl at the lake shores, to 1,760 m asl in the rocky hills
along the north-western border of the estate. The shallow lake is bordered in part by extensive
areas of sedge marshland, and in part by intensively grazed short-grass plains. The natural
vegetation beyond the lake shore is dominated by broad-leaved miombo (Brachystegia)
woodlands and seasonally wet dambo grasslands. Two major types of evergreen wooded
vegetation also occur on the estate: Seepage-fed evergreen forests dominated by Syzygium spp.
occur along drainage lines. Much drier forest, with a canopy dominated by semi-deciduous
species and a dense undergrowth of evergreen thicket species, occurs on sandy soils, mainly
within a kilometer-wide band along the north-western shores of the lake. Emergent trees in this
forest type include Isoberlinia angolensis, Brachystegia taxifolia, Parinari curatellifolia, P.
excelsa and Faurea saligna, among many more.
Figure 2: A Chequered Giant Sengi at Shiwa N’gandu Estate, as it moved through a 30 m wide open area
dominated by grasses located between two patches of dry forest with an understory of evergreen thicket.
Photo: ©Frank Willems, 18 September 2016.
Afrothehan Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 3
Shiwa N’gandu and the nearby Kapishya Hot springs are listed as an Important Bird Area
(number 30; Leonard 2005). The estate is also known as the Mansha River Conservation Area,
reflecting the importance of wildlife conservation in the management of the estate.
Methods
I visited Shiwa N’gandu from 16 to 18 September 2016 to search for Giant Chequered
Sengis (Rhynchocyon cirnei), focusing mainly on a patch of dry forest with an evergreen thicket
understory at SI 1.2457E31.720°, while shorter visits were made to other parts of the estate and
Kapishya Hot springs. I searched for sengis and other fauna by slowly moving through the patch
on foot, following roads and game trails.
Figure 3: Typical vegetation at the edge of a thicket in Shiwa N’gandu Estate,
where sengis were sighted. Photo: ©Frank Willems, 18 September 2016.
Results
I spotted what I believe to be 14 different individual Chequered Giant Sengis (Fig. 1)
during a total of five hours searching within a 10 ha patch of dry forest with an evergreen
thicket understory on Shiwa N’gandu Estate, between coordinates SI 1.24437E31.7188° and
SI 1.2474°/E31.7214°. I saw no sengis in other parts of the estate or at Kapishya Hot springs.
This thicket patch borders Lake Shiwa N’gandu. It is dominated by a dense, 8 m tall
thicket layer of evergreen bushes and creepers. Due to the closed canopy, a herb layer was
largely absent, but leaf litter was abundant (Fig. 2).
Discussion
Shiwa N’gandu lies between Mutinondo Wilderness and the extreme northern parts of
Zambia, where R. cirnei reichardi is known to occur (Willems 2016, fig. 1). My observations
now confirm a wide distribution of the Chequered Giant Sengi in the Muchinga Highlands of
Zambia.
As in Mutinondo Wilderness and indeed most known localities of Chequered Giant
Sengi, animals utilize evergreen closed-canopy habitats with dense leaf litter (Rathbun 2013,
Willems 2016). Although the odd animal was observed in more open habitats (as in fig. 2), there
is no indication that the species uses any such habitats other than to move between forest
patches.
The species has been reported to be present in other dry evergreen forests within Shiwa
N’gandu Estate, further northeast along the lake, as well as at Kapishya Hot springs (Willems
Afrothehan Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 4
2016). I could not confirm these reports. The vegetation in these locations, however, seems very
suitable, hence there is no reason to question these reports.
Comparing my images from Shiwa N’gandu with specimens in the Livingstone Museum
from other areas of northern Zambia, suggests that the pelage patterns are essentially identical,
indicating Muchinga Plateau populations belong to the subspecies R. c. reichardi.
Mweru Wanti'pa NP
□in
□ • <
V Kasama
15
° ■
Q Q^yika
.Marisa Stiava N'gandu
i Mpika
.avus!";. NP
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Figure 1: Google Earth image showing the location of Shiwa N’gandu and other known localities of
Chequered Giant Sengi in north-eastern Zambia. Red dots indicate major cities, black-centred squares
indicate localities of museum specimens (Corbet & Hanks 1968, Ansell & Dowsett 1988, Livingstone
Museum collection), open squares indicate localities given by Ansell (1978; 1/16^^ degree squares),
circles indicate localities presented in Willems (2016) and this publication. Dark blue circles are for
confirmed records, and pale blue circles for unconfirmed records, as discussed in text.
The conservation status of Chequered Giant Sengi at Shiwa N’gandu can be considered
favourable. The owners actively aim to preserve the natural habitats and wildlife on the estate.
The main forms of land-use, livestock ranching and game farming, do not seem to present a
short-term threat to the sengi’s habitat. On the other hand, substantial areas of potentially
suitable habitat have been lost in the last century as a result of conversion to arable land or
exotic tree plantations. Remaining habitats have degenerated in places, being opened up for
grazing by fires and manual clearing of thickets. In addition, some subsistence hunting with
small wire snares was noticed in the survey patch, reportedly targeting the sengis. There is also
anecdotal evidence that a domestic dog killed a sengi in the survey patch (P. Borsboom pers.
comm.). This suggests the species is vulnerable to hunting with dogs, which is not allowed on
the estate but common practice outside protected areas (own observations).
Afrothehan Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 5
On the basis of my own observations, it can be assumed that the above detailed factors
seriously threaten the long-term survival of individual populations in Zambia outside protected
areas such as Shiwa N’gandu and Mutinondo Wilderness. Active conservation and further study
of known populations is recommended.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank Pauline Borsboom, Charlie and Jo Harvey, and Mark and Mel
Harvey for their hospitality and their contributions to conservation and sustainable development
on Shiwa N’gandu, Kapishya Hot springs and beyond. Galen Rathbun and Chris and Mathilde
Stuart are thanked for their encouragement and comments on a draft version of this article.
References
Ansell W.F.H. 1978. The Mammals of Zambia. The National Parks and Wildlife Service,
Chilanga.
Leonard P. 2005. Important Bird Areas in Zambia. Zambian Ornithological Society, Lusaka,
Zambia.
Rathbun G. 2013. Rhynchocyon cirnei Chequered Giant Sengi (Chequered Elephant Shrew), pp
285-286 in Kingdon, J. et al. (eds) 2013. Mammals of Africa. Volume I: Introductory
Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
Willems F.J. 2016. The occurrence of Chequered Giant Sengis (Rhynchocyon cirnei) in
Mutinondo Wilderness and its distribution in Zambia. Afrotherian Conservation 12(23-
28).
Afrotherian Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 6
Identifying the different forms of giant sengi
(Rhynchocyon)
based on external colour patterns.
Galen B. Rathbun
Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118,
USA
The sengi or elephant-shrew genus Rhynchocyon includes five species and 8 subspecies
restricted to closed canopy thickets, woodlands, and forests of central and eastern Africa. All
forms are diurnal and have colourful pelage patterns, thus they are relatively easy to observe, for
a small (ca. 500 g) mammal (Rathbun 2009). Sightings are being reported more frequently as
people move into or explore some of the more remote areas of Africa. Well-documented
sightings (and especially photographs) promise to contribute to a better understanding of giant
sengi distributions, and will improve conservation assessments (www.iucnredlist.org).
The main features used in identifying Rhynchocyon forms include the colour of the rump
and face pelage, the colour of the tail and ear skin, and the pattern of parallel dark lines and
associated light spots (checkering) on the pelage of the back (Corbet & Hanks 1968). However,
the checkering, which is common in many forms and is likely ancestral, is variably masked by
the different intensity of dark pelage on the back and rump of some forms. These dark
individuals in some cases may represent geographic dines (Corbet & Hanks 1968) with lighter
forms (see key below).
To help people identify the different forms of Rhynchocyon, I have constructed the
following key, which follows the taxonomy of Corbet and Hanks (1968) and updates by Rovero
et al. (2008), Adanje et al. (2010), and Carlen et al. (2017). With additional data and analyses,
some relatively minor changes might be expected in the future. The two figures illustrating
color patterns do not include all taxa, but focus on similar forms that may present identification
difficulties. General distributions (http://www.sengis.org/distribution.php), also indicated in the
key, often are of great help in determining identifications.
I greatly appreciate access to the collection of the Natural History Museum, London,
which is the source of my images, as well as the Ditsong Museum of Natural History, Pretoria,
South Africa. Useful suggestions on this paper were provided by Peter Coals and David Ribble.
References:
Andanje, S., B. R. Agwanda, G. W. Ngaruiya, R. Amin, and G. B. Rathbun. 2010. Sengi
(elephant-shrew) observations from northern coastal Kenya. Journal of East African
Natural History 99:1-8.
Carlen, E. J., G. B. Rathbun, L. E. Olson, C. A. Sabuni, W. T. Stanley, and J. P. Dumbacher.
2017. Reconstructing the molecular phylogeny of giant sengis (Macroscelidea:
Macroscelididae: Rhynchocyon). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 113:150-160.
Corbet, G. B., and J. Hanks. 1968. A revision of the elephant-shrews, Eamily Macroscelididae.
Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 16:47-111.
Rathbun, G. B. 2009. Why is there discordant diversity in sengi (Mammalia: Afrotheria:
Macroscelidea) taxonomy and ecology? African Journal of Ecology 47:1-13.
Rovero, E., G. B. Rathbun, A. Perkin, T. Jones, D. Ribble, C. Leonard, R. R. Mwakisoma, and
N. Doggart. 2008. A new species of giant sengi or elephant-shrew (genus Rhynchocyon)
highlights the exceptional biodiversity of the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. Journal
of Zoology, London 274:126-133.
Afrotherian Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 7
Identification Key to Rhynchocyon taxa
based on external colour patterns and geographic distribution
la. Rump patch distinctly yellow; Kenya, central coast-R, chrysopygus
(subgenus Rhinonax)
lb. No yellow rump patch-2
2a. Tail white from tip to base (sometimes with indistinct slightly darker narrow dorsum);
Congo Basin and western Uganda; all are distinctly checkered, dine with western forms
being darker than those to the east-R, stuhlmanni
2b. Tail not white, but orange or shades of brown, often with white band near tip— 3
3a. Tail and ear skin and face pelage bright rufous or orange; rump, back, and thigh pelage jet
black (two subspecies may not be justified)-R.petersi petersi
(mainland eastern Africa) and-R,p, adersi
(Tanzania offshore islands).
3b. Tail skin various shades of brown to black, may be lighter ventrally, with variable white
band near tip; ear skin shades of brown; rump colour variable-4
4a. Face pelage gray with no yellow or brown; rump and thighs black; Tanzania, Udzungwa
Mountains-R, udzungwensis
4b. Face pelage brownish-yellow-5
5a. Back and rump with distinct pattern of dark parallel lines, often checkered with light spots;
lower back, rump, and thighs with no dark pelage obscuring lines and checkers-
-6
5b. Back dark maroon or rufous grading to nearly black rump and thighs; dark pelage nearly
obscuring darker parallel lines and checkering on back; Tanzania, south-eastern coastal
lowlands (north Ruvuma River)-R. c. macrurus
(dark form in east-west dine, see no. 7a).
5c. Similar to no. 5b (undescribed form with incomplete understanding of colour patterns; Fig.
1); Kenya, northern coast in Boni & Dodori forests-Rhynchocyon sp.
6a. Pattern on rump and back composed of 3 very distinct pairs of parallel black or very dark
lines with inner pair reaching % of way to neck; distinct cream or white checker spots
within at least the two inner pair of lines; Rift Valley highlands in Tanzania, Zambia,
and Malawi (possible full species)-R, c. reichardi and
-c. hendersoni
(likely individuals of reichardi at higher elevations with darker back, rump, and sides
partially masking checkering).
6b. Pattern on rump and back composed of 1 or 2 distinct pairs of dark (often chestnut) lines
that reach Vi way to neck; indistinct third pair of outer lines may be present; no white
checker spotting completely within each line-7
7a. Background pelage on back, and especially sides and thighs, yellow-brown; central pair of
lines dark brown and well-defined with closely associated brown spotting on outer edge
or with outer edge broken with intruding areas the same colour as general back pelage;
Tanzania, inland southeast lowlands north Ruvuma River (light inland form in west-east
dine; see no. 5a)-R, c, macrurus
7b. Background pelage on back, and especially sides and thighs, gray-brown; central pair of
lines chestnut and often ill-defined with outer edge or entire line broken with intruding
lighter areas of surrounding yellow-brown colour of back (following pair may be same
taxon)-8
8a. Mozambique (south Ruvuma River) and southern Malawi-R, c. cirnei
8b. Malawi, Shire Valley-R, c, shirensis
Afrotherian Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 8
Figure 1. Representatives of the various “dark” forms q/* Rhynchocyon (top 4) showing distinctive

features (see key). Bottom three study skins illustrate the R. c. macrurus dine from the coast (top of

three) to inland (bottom of three). The morphologically and taxonomically undescribed Rhynchocyon

from northern coastal Kenya (Boni-Dodori forest area) is superficially similar to the coastal form o/R. c.

macrurus (middle skin). Catalog numbers from top to bottom from the The Natural History Museum,
London, (BMNH): BMNH2007.7, BMNH55.148, BMNH62.423, BMNH62-400, BMNH62-405.
R.c. macrurus
R.c. macrurus
R.c. shirensis
R.C. cirnei
R.c. reichardi
(c) G, Rathbun->^:
Figure 2. Representatives of some checkered forms o/Rhynchocyon, illustrating the complicated dorsal

pelage patterns (see key). Study skins shown and their catalog numbers (The Natural History Museum,
London BMNH; California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco CAS), from lower left clockwise: R.
= =
c. cirnei/ram northern Mozambique (BMNH34.1.11.6, CAS 29358, and CAS29352); R. c. macrurus dine

from inland south-eastern Tanzania (BMNH62.405, BMNH62.404, BMNH1938.10.13.5) to coastal south¬
eastern Tanzania (BMNH63.1852 and BMNH62.400); R. c. shirensis from southern Malawi

(BMNH22.12.17.116, BMNH14.4.29.2, and BMNH22.12.17.115); R. c. reichardi from Tanzania

highlands (BMNH30.2.7.1; note third outer pair of lines not visible in this view).
Afrotherian Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 9
Sengi Taxonomy - a 2017 update
Galen B. Rathbun
Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy, California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San
Francisco, CA, [email protected]
During the last decade, several publications have proposed significant changes and additions to
sengi taxonomy. Because taxonomy is fundamental to conservation, below I summarise the
systematics of extant sengis, which includes 20 species in five genera. For subspecies
taxonomy see literature cited, and for lUCN Red List status visit www.afrotheria.net. The
species below ending with an * represent changes to the long-standing sengi taxonomy, as
defined by Corbet and Hanks (1968). The short bibliography of peer-reviewed publications
supports this updated listing.
Order: Macroscelidea Butler, 1956
Family: Macroscelididae Bonaparte, 1838
Subfamily: Macroscelidinae Bonaparte, 1838
Tribe: Elephantulini *
Genus: Elephantulus Thomas & Schwann, 1906
Elephantulus brachyrhynchus A. Smith, 1836
Elephantulus edwardii A. Smith, 1839
Elephantulus fuscipes ThormiS, 1894
Elephantulus fuscus Peters, 1852
Elephantulus intufiA. Smith, 1836
Elephantulus myurus Thomas & Schwann, 1906
Elephantulus pilicaudus Smit, 2008 *
Elephantulus revoilii Huet, 1881
Elephantulus rufescens Peters, 1874
Elephantulus rupestris A. Smith 1831
Tribe: Macroscelidini *
Genus: Macroscelides A. Smith, 1829
Macroscelides flavicaudatus Lundholm, 1955 *
Macroscelides micus Dumbacher & Rathbun, 2014 *
Macroscelides proboscideus Shaw, 1800
Genus: Petrodromus Peters, 1846
Petrodromus tetradactylus Peters, 1846
Genus: Petrosaltator Rathbun & Dumbacher, 2016 *
Petrosaltator rozeti Duvernoy, 1833
Subfamily: Rhynchocyoninae Gill 1872
Genus: Rhynchocyon Peters, 1847
Rhynchocyon chrysopygus Gunther, 1881
Rhynchocyon cirnei Peters, 1847
Rhynchocyon petersi Bocage, 1880
Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni Matschie, 1893 *
Rhynchocyon udzungwensis Rathbun & Rovero, 2008 *
Rhynchocyon sp. (undescribed form, northern coastal Kenya) *
Bibliography
Corbet, G. B. 1974. Family Macroscelididae. Pages 1-6 in J. Meester and H. W. Setzer, editors.
The mammals of Africa: An identification manual. Smithsonian Institution Press,
Washington, DC.
Corbet, G. B., and J. Hanks. 1968. A revision of the elephant-shrews. Family Macroscelididae.
Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 16:47-111.
Carlen, E. J., G. B. Rathbun, L. E. Olson, C. A. Sabuni, W. T. Stanley, and J. P. Dumbacher.
Afrothehan Conservation Number 13 - September 2017 Page 10